Singapore+-+CCA

__Singapore - CCA__
Done by Chiang Teng Hui and Lim Jun Xiang

=//__What are CCAs?__//=
 * Co-Curricular activities** (CCAs) are activities that educational organisations in some parts of the world create for school students. They serve to promote a variety of activities which all school students must attend alongside the standard study cirruculum. In Singapore, the policy was first introduced by the Ministry of Education, which believe extra activities for school students are a means to instill active social interaction. The original initiative was subsequently expanded to include important qualities, such as leadership, healthy recreation, self-discipline and self-confidence. At higher levels of education, CCA participation may even translate into precious academic points.

__//Dimensions of CCAs//__
-Sports (Water polo, Track and Field, etc.) -Uniform Groups (Scouts, NCC, etc.) -Clubs and societies (Library club, chess club, etc.) -Performing Arts (English Drama, Band, etc.)

//__Emphasis on CCAs__//
Some schools emphasise a lot on CCAs, with most schools having a niche area or more. An example is the Presbyterian High School, which has a niche area in volleyball (girls). While some have a niche area in sports, others may be especially well in the Performing Arts aspect. Bowen Secondary School is an example of a school being accorded the Niche school status for its band performance by the MOE. To prove that one is good at a CCA, the school would probably have a sustained achievement award for that particular category.

//__Sustained Achievement Award__//
Sustained Achievement Award is one of the two second level of achievement awards, as proposed in the Masterplan of Awards, given to schools to recognise niches of excellence in the Result category of School Excellence Model (SEM). It is an award based on past sustained achievement in various Result categories. The first SAAs were given to schools in 1999 during the MOE Workplan Seminar on 4th September 1999. There were five categories of awards presented to school in this inaugural SAA, namely Arts, Sports, Uniformed Group, Academic Value-addedness and physical fitness. Since the SAA is intended to give recognition to niches of excellence in schools based on a trend of good performance in a category, the selection of schools for a category in a particular year will be based on sustained results in that category for the past 3 consecutive years.

//__Are CCAs necessary in schools__//
Quoted from the MOE website: CCAs are an integral part of our students’ holistic, well-rounded education. They help nurture in students qualities such as resilience, tenacity, confidence and perseverance, which prepare them to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world. Going to online forums, some people feel that it is not really necessary. However, a few people pointed out some good points about CCAs. On sgforum, greyskymorning said that 'CCA helps to build your character'. Another person, Lemonie22 also contributed that we should 'Join a CCA that you have an interest in. Only then will u develop as a person as you are willing to spend more time in it.' CCAs are rather important as it teaches you qualities which cannot be learnt in class. In a sports CCA, you learnt about teamwork and resilience, which will definitely help you in life. In Polytechnics and Universities (tertiary education institutes), CCA records are actually considered by potential employers.



//__Bibliography__//
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co-curricular_activity_(Singapore) http://politics.sgforums.com/forums/8/topics/48221 http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/secondary/cca/ http://www3.moe.edu.sg/ccab/uniformed/saa.htm